ALBERTA VOTES 2008

Reporters' Notebook

Old what's-his-name?

February 7, 2008 | 11:52 AM

Scott Dippel

There are some unwritten rules in politics, especially during campaigns. One is that you never say too many nice things about your competition. (Ask Rod Love what happens!) Heck, it's actually best to avoid referring to another candidate by name. Your opponents can sell themselves.

It's not your job. Stick to their party's name or "my honourable friend" or "the member from..." Using a name can result in one of those overdone media "gotcha" moments.

Exhibit A: On Tuesday at his news conference at Calgary's Foothills Hospital, Ed Stelmach stayed on message, even if he went to the other extreme and seemed to have forgotten the name of one of his opponents.

A reporter asked Stelmach to react to NDP Leader Brian Mason's earlier release of an email his party received from the chair of the province's royalty review panel, Bill Hunter.

Here's what Stelmach said: "I'm not aware of Bill's comments uh and uh... and and even if he did talk to or if he did or didn't talk to Bill Mason... uh, or ... whatever his name is."

Off microphone, a Calgary PC candidate volunteered to the leader: "Brian."

So Stelmach continued: "Brian. Yes." That then drew laughter from the Calgary candidates.

"Whatever his name is?" I thought Mason had the undying respect of Mr. Stelmach, particularly for ensuring there aren't too many Liberals elected in Edmonton. With friends like this.… well, you get the idea.

Amid anger over an Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, Nigerians returned a 72-year-old former military dictator to power Tuesday in the most hotly contested election in the country's history.

Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier took to Facebook Tuesday to blast MPs who were not present at Monday evening's vote to extend Canada's military mission against ISIS in northern Iraq and now Syria.

A tearful Catherine Ouellet says she can't thank enough the man she calls a hero after he carried her 80-year-old aunt away from the wreckage of Air Canada Flight 624 after it crashed just after midnight Sunday.

Cuts to Canada's food inspection programs have created a "double standard," where meat sold to Canadians is not as well inspected than that destined for export, according to the union that represents inspectors.

Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier took to Facebook Tuesday to blast MPs who were not present at Monday evening's vote to extend Canada's military mission against ISIS in northern Iraq and now Syria.

On April 1, temporary foreign workers who have been employed in Canada for at least four years will see their work visas expire. But just how many of them are there? The federal government won't release the number and no one else is sure.

Refiners, spurred by high profit margins, are rushing to buy crude and churn out more fuel in response to an unexpectedly swift rise in U.S. road travel and that may avert a crisis in storing U.S. oil.

The Jets look for more room in the Western wild-card race, the Predators eye a potential Presidents' Trophy as they face Vancouver, the Sens try to end their losing streak in Detroit and the Bruins face off against Florida with playoff position in the balance.

The Toronto Blue Jays' pre-season performance has been encouraging and the manager believes it’s a more talented group than recent years. We discuss some of the players, young and older, and their roles in our Blue Jays season preview.